Mors studied the girl, his gaze making her fidget nervously.
Now that he got a better look, she was actually cute. Long black hair framed her face, and even her casual clothes made it obvious she came from money.
But sadly, even being a billionaire back on Earth meant nothing here.
"Yes? What is it?" he asked.
"A-are you not registering at the Forsaken Hall?" she stammered.
The Forsaken Hall was much like an Adventurer's Hall — take on quests, earn rewards from the Dryads, and survive the Sanctuary's challenges. The Dryads answered to their Queen, and she answered to the 'One Above All'.
'And who is that supposed to be? The god that gave the Decree, or someone else entirely?' Mors thought.
Still, only after registering at the Hall could he use the Sanctuary's facilities or move freely inside. Her question seemed utterly pointless.
"Of course I'm registering. Why wouldn't I?" he asked, puzzled.
"Ah… we're the only ones left here," she said softly.
Mors finally understood. They were alone in the middle of the forested courtyard while the rest of the Marked had already left for the Hall.
He and the girl had lost time staring at their panels, and now she looked hesitant and unsure about moving toward the Hall on her own.
He sighed and stood, holding out his hand. "I'm Mors."
The girl immediately smiled and shook it. "I'm Aiko."
"I see, Aiko. You can drop the formal speech and just call me Mors. For now… shall we go register?" he asked, already knowing her answer.
Her face lit up immediately. "Yes!"
* * *
Mors walked along the white pathways of the Sanctuary, Aiko close by, both staring in awe at the architecture.
All around them stood white buildings in a Roman-like style, their walls wrapped in vines, flowers, and trees.
Waterways ran alongside the paths, and each structure was surrounded by carefully arranged trees of different types, creating a scene of mesmerizing beauty far beyond anything the skyscrapers of Earth could offer.
Humans from Earth moved along the paths as well. Most were from the previous year or earlier, and those strong enough had probably already advanced to the Second Ring.
"Hey, Mors! Look at that," Aiko said, tugging at his coat.
He followed her gaze and saw an auburn-haired Dryad slip into a tree like water, emerging from another one about twenty meters away.
"Damn, teleporting through trees?" he muttered, unsure how it worked.
Soon, they reached a massive white building with towering pillars. A large plaque above the entrance read Forsaken Hall.
They stepped through the large double doors and walked along grand hallways before reaching a wide rectangular chamber.
At the far end sat a Dryad with a lily-like flower blooming from her head, smiling as she registered the Earthlings from Mors's batch.
Mors glanced at the long line stretching before the counter and let out a quiet sigh.
'I hate queues.'
With no other choice, he and Aiko moved to the back of the line.
* * *
After what felt like hours, Mors finally stepped up to the counter.
The Dryad before him smiled brightly and repeated in a practiced tone, "Hello, Earthling. Welcome to the Forsaken Hall. I presume you are here to register?"
Mors raised a brow. Unlike the first Dryad he had met, this one radiated warmth and mischief rather than stern composure.
"What is it?" she asked, tilting her head at his puzzled expression.
"No… I just thought you feel very different from the first Dryad I met," he admitted after a brief hesitation.
She giggled softly. "Ivy can seem strict, but she is actually very kind."
Then she extended her hand across the counter. "I am Lily."
"Mors," he replied simply, taking her hand.
The moment their palms touched, thin vines slid from her skin and coiled around their joined hands.
"Hmm," Lily murmured, studying him closely. "Such an unusual name… and such beautiful eyes. Are you truly human?"
There was something playful in her voice, but beneath it lay a subtle pressure, like roots tightening beneath the soil.
Mors remained calm. He had always known he was handsome; being questioned by a Dryad about it was hardly an insult.
"You will know once I register, won't you?" he replied evenly.
Mors and Lily held each other's gaze, silently sizing one another up.
Aiko, standing behind Mors, gulped as her eyes darted between the two.
She couldn't help thinking about her past and how she had ended up here.
Raised by strict parents, she had spent her entire life studying and behaving, shaping herself into the perfect daughter. She never believed she would be Marked. Her path had always been clear, controlled and carefully planned.
And yet, despite everything, she was here.
Part of her felt free for the first time. Another part felt scared and painfully awkward. She had never really made friends back home, and now she was standing in a divine hall in another world beside a boy who spoke to Dryads as if they were classmates.
Like everyone else, she had learned about the First Ring and its rulers.
The Dryads were said to serve that god, and within the Sanctuary their authority was absolute. No one defied them or provoked them.
Even if they were bound to the Sanctuary and couldn't leave it, that did not make them any less dangerous.
And yet this strange boy she had just met was calmly trading words with one of them.
Cold sweat slid down her forehead.
Lily finally broke the silent standoff with Mors, her smile widening just a little.
"Hehe… you really are an interesting human," she said lightly.
The vines withdrew as gently as they had appeared. She gestured toward the spherical crystal resting on the counter before her.
It was a beautiful orb, its surface clear as water, thick roots and vines anchoring it firmly to the counter.
Mors placed his left hand upon the crystal. Aether pulsed through him almost instantly.
The Sigil on his skin, a stag's head encircled within a circle, flared with light before slowly settling back into calm.
Mors willed his status open, and beneath the main panel, a new sub-panel appeared labeled [ FORSAKEN RECORD ].